United Nations Opreations in Congo-Onuc

United Nations Opreations in Congo-ONUC

The United Nations is considered at this point to be one of the most important actors on the international scene, despite the constant controversy surrounding its history, present, and achievements. Even so, the framework of the international peacekeeping operations has enabled the UN to have a consistent contribution to world peace, democracy, and above all, to the development of least developed countries around the world.

The United Nation Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is an example of the impact the organization has had along the decades in the war torn African country

However, the Stabilization mission currently on the ground in the Congo represents just one example of the constant presence of the UN in the country. Therefore, the present paper asserts that the UN has undergone an important political and military role in the country, enabling the population and in particular the political system to overcome the challenges facing most decolonized African countries. The focus of the research analysis is both on the successes of the UN Operation in Congo from 1960 to 1964, as well as it shortcomings. Such an approach underlines furthermore the efforts made at the international level to support and positively influence the difficult circumstances of the African countries in general and the Congo in particular.

The paper follows a historical and analytical structure at the same time. Better said the focus is on the events that actually took place in the period after the withdrawal of the Belgian troops with attention paid at the role the UN had in improving the situation on the ground. At the same time though the positive and the negative aspects of the UN presence are underlined to ensure a proper account of the events and their interpretation.

Background: prelude of the United Nations intervention in the Congo

The background of most UN missions on the African continent is related to the colonization and eventual decolonization process. For the current case of the Congo, the Rwandan experience is very important largely because of the vicinity of the two countries, the resembling history, but even more due to the spill over effect history has for a region. Thus, the comparison of the Congo with certain parts of the Rwandan background only points out the clear cut symbols of the colonization, decolonization, and UN intervention. In this sense, it is important to point out the role the colonization powers had on the future of countries such as Congo or Rwanda. The situation in Rwanda was one of the most visible of all decolonization results and possibly the most violent and bloody. The 1994 genocide that took the lives of at least 800,000 Rwandans is viewed to this day as a failure by the UN peacekeeping mission and as a result of a mismanagement of the decolonization process

. In the Rwandan case, the Belgians left the country in the same time as they left Congo. The difference however lied in the way in which the societies were constructed. Whereas in Rwanda, there was a sense of politics and of social order, in Congo, as soon as the Belgians left the country, the disorganized masses rebelled.

The colonization and decolonization process were both rather complex events in history. The colonization system of the Belgians was rather different from the one of the British or even the French. Their most effective system of conquest was the creation of a clear separation at the level of the societies. Thus, while in Rwanda, the Belgians created a differentiation on ethnic lines between the Hutu and the Tutsis, in Congo, this line was between the whites and the natives. More precisely, "despite the modest improvements in the lives of the Congolese, the Belgians created two separate societies in the Congo: the whites and the natives. The whites had all the luxuries, and the native Africans lacked everything. It was an apartheid type of social and political system. All the major decisions concerning the Congo were made in Brussels, and the Congolese were not allowed to participate in the running of their own country."

In this sense, the situation in Belgian colonies was considerably worse that in French or British ones.

The situation that took place in the Congo in the 1960s does not necessarily reflect the downsized of the colonization process, but more those of the Belgian way of colonization and administration of the colonies. More precisely, the colonization was benefic for instance for countries such as India which benefited from the powers and influences of the British empire long after it decided to separate from the Crown. As well, in Algeria, despite the popular turmoil, its citizens decided to keep the relations with France. The Belgian means of colonization, its techniques, constant control and most importantly the concept of social segmentation left no initiative for the indigenous population to develop, to undergo political and administrative progress. From this point-of-view, the power vacuum that followed the withdrawal of the Belgian troops in the summer of 1960 was as inevitable as it was justified by historical circumstances.

The Congo independence took place on June 30th 1960 as a result of several previous actions from the Congolese part. More precisely, in the years building to the 1960 independence, constant pressures especially from the younger generation emerged and the Belgian government was eventually forced to accept the independence, only following a transition period that in 1960 included the election of a new president and prime minister

. However, the ad hoc arrangement after the elections also included extremist groups joining the power. More precisely, elections take place in May. Lumumba's MNC emerges as the largest single party, with Kasavubu's Abako in second place. Neither succeeds independently in forming a coalition. As a compromise Kasavubu becomes president and head of state, with Lumumba as prime minister at the head of a coalition including a dozen extremely diverse minor parties"

. Despite the rule, the clear difference made at the social level between the white and the native blacks became obvious in the army. Therefore the mutiny inside the army alarms not only the leading politicians but also the Belgian forces.

An important part in the outbreak of violence was that of the rich region of Katanga, which was eventually declared independent by the president at the time. In turn, the Prime Minister Lumumba asked for assistance from the Soviet Union. As well, the cold War played a major role in the escalation of the conflict largely due to the fact that the African continent was viewed as a potential voting pole in the General Assembly and the UN Security Council

. More precisely, the issue of the Katanga region as well as the Cold War characteristics all converged to a single goal, which was supremacy. The influence over one country or another translated to the two major powers, the U.S. And the U.S.S.R. into additional influence on the ground and in the political circles of the UN. These two aspects were crucial for the decision of the UN to intervene in the country.

The United Nations has often been criticized along the years that it fails to intervene where the interests of the Great powers (the Permanent 5 members of the Security Council) are not under attack. In this sense, in reference to the Rwandan genocide, it has been considered that the UN failed to take action because the United States, France, and even the UK refused to become part of an intrastate civil war that would eventually result in the drama experienced by the U.S. forces in Vietnam or even Somalia. From this point-of-view, in the 1960s Congo, the major interest of both poles of power, the U.S. And the U.S.S.R. was for Congo to become an independent country, under the influence of neither the U.S. Nor the U.S.S.R. However, in order to achieve such a goal, both sides had to intervene. This is an important point-of-view, which offers a proper perspective on the rapidity with which the United Nations intervened in Congo.

The situation on the ground up to the arrival of the UN troops was very volatile and represented a true danger for the countries around. The clash was between those eager to control a rich province such as Katanga and want to break it apart from the Congo and those who would eventually want to see peace restored. At the same time though it is important to point out that the regional situation was not a stable one. In this context the outbreak of violence was not desirable. More precisely, "the danger of the Congo crisis being sucked into the broader cold war conflict was as least as great as it had been in earlier interventions and 'immunization' by peacekeeping seemed both appropriate and urgent. Eventually, through it was to be the Congo that first exposed the limits of peacekeeping as defined by the experience of Suez and then elaborated and articulated by Hammarskjold in the summary study"

The mission in Congo was established through resolution 143 of 1960 which "authorize the Secretary-General to take the necessary steps, in consultation with the Government of the Republic of the Congo, to provide the Government with such military assistance as might be necessary until, through that Government's efforts with United Nations technical assistance, the national security forces might be able, in the opinion of the Government, to meet fully their tasks." More precisely, the role of the Resolution was to establish the UN Operation in the Congo. This came as a result of the vivid request of the Government for the UN to intervene, given the troop movement from the Belgian side.

The action taken by the Belgian was clearly justifiable. Similar to the cases of Somalia and Rwanda, the nationals from the colonizing country are at great risk at the moment of a civil war outbreak. At the same time, the nationals of other countries as well represent a potential subject for revenge or blackmail. The United Nations' mandate however and its subsequent actions would not have been possible without the explicit request from the government of the country. Therefore, although the UN had a legitimate reason for entering the Congo in the condition of potential lives being at risk, the mandate of the UN is politically authorized solely in the moment in which the national government request the Secretary General to take action.

The UN Operation in the Congo represented a milestone for the United Nations particularly because it was the first peacekeeping mission of the UN in Africa. However it proved to be one of the most difficult. There were several factors to consider, but the political situation in the country, which also resulted in the assassination of Prime Minister Lumumba was the most difficult.

The mandate of the Mission included in a first instance the eventual withdrawal of the Belgian troops from the Congolese territory I respect for the independence of the country and the restoration of peace. However, its mandate eventually extended over a period of four years, leaving several elements still unfinished that would eventually burst and fuel other years of tension and civil war to this day.

The immediate nature of the Mission was obvious in the clear-cut vote offered in the Security Council for the establishment of the mission. Thus, the Council resolution was adopted by 8 votes in favor (including the Soviet Union and the United States) to none against, with three abstentions.] in less than 48 hours, contingents of a United Nations Force, provided by a number of countries including Asian and African States began to arrive in the Congo. At the same time, United Nations civilian experts were rushed to the Congo to help ensure the continued operations of essential public services"

The four years that followed with the UN in the Congo saw important historical developments for the country. The split of the government between those wanting to have a serious control over Katonga and the rest was crucial. Furthermore, the taking over of power by the military through Mobuto Sese Seko was as well an important event because it pointed out the serious crisis that was underway in the Congo. The military is in this types of countries perhaps the most important force in the society largely because that at the moment in which the military takes over the power, it is assumed that the government is no longer functioning and coherent.

During this time, the UN, despite the impressive number of troops that mounted to around 20,000 was not able to face an even extending mandate. From ensuring the clear dismissal of foreign troops in the Congo to ensuring and defending the territorial integrity of the country, the mandate of the UN extended by the year. The most important move was the one authorized by Resolution 161 dated February 21, 1961 which stated that "deeply concerned at the grave repercussions of these crimes and the danger of widespread civil war and bloodshed in the Congo and the threat to international peace and security (…) urges that the United Nations take immediately all appropriate measures to prevent the occurrence of civil war in the Congo, including arrangements for cease-fires, the halting of all military operations, the prevention of clashes and the use of force, if necessary in the last resort; urges that measures be taken for the immediate withdrawal and evacuation from the Congo of all Belgian and other foreign military and paramilitary personnel and political advisers not under the UN Command, and mercenaries"